Insect-destroyer and fumigator.



No. 771,366. PATBNTED OCT. 4, 1904. J. H. HEPFNER & E. Z. KIDD. INSECTDESTROYER AND FUMIGATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.11. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

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I .1 I murmur! UNTTEn STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. HEFFNER AND EUGENE Z. KIDD, OF THORNTON, TEXAS.

INSECT-DESTROYER AND FUIVIIGATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,366, dated October4, 1904.

Application filed February 11, 1904. Serial No. 193,166. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J oHN H. HEFFNER and EUGENE Z. KIDD, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Thornton, in the county of Limestone andState of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inInsect- Destroyers and Fumigators, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of this invention is to protect plant life from the ravagesof insects, and particularly to destroy the boll weevil or Worm, whichis destructive to cotton-plants and which materially reduces theharvest, besides depreciating the value of the material gathered bycutting the fibers and shortening the same.

The present invention provides a fumigator of novel formation andparticularly designed for utilizing crude oil or petroleum, eithersingly or in combination with pine-tar, sulfur, and cresolic. Combinedwith the'fumigator are distributing pipes for delivering the smok andfumes upon the plants infested with insects and parasites fordestruction thereof without injuring the growth.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference isto be had to the following descriptionand drawings hereto attached. 7

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention aresusceptible of modilication, still the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is aIGHJVlGW thereof, the truck being omitted and the lower portion of oneof the distributing-pipes being broken away. Fig. 3 is a centrallongitudinal section of the fumigator, the truck being omitted.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

For convenience of transportation and movement over the field thefumigator is illustrated in Fig. 1 as mounted upon atruck of anystructural type and is propelled by hand or other power. The fumigatorproper comprises a box 1.of any capacity and shape and is subdivided bypartition 2 into chambers or compartments 3 and 4. The part 3constitutes the combustion chamber, and the part L the smoke or fumeschamber. The box is closed upon all sides, and the chambers 3 and l arein communication by means of the space provided between the upper edgeof the partition 2 and the top of the box. Access is had to the interiorof the smoke or fumes chamber 4: by means of the hinged cover 5. Thetank or reservoir 6 for containing the oil for supplying the burner 7 inthe combustion-chamber is located upon the box 1 and preferably abovethe combustion-chamber to admit of the crude oil being heated, so as toincrease its fluidity. The crude oil may be such as derived from theBeaumont district or other locality, and in the event of it beingdesired to combine therewith a chemical agent-such as sulfur, cresolic,or the like the same is added to the oil in the reservoir or tank 6 andpasses with the oil to the burner. The burner 7 preferably consists of apipe passed through the lower portion of the combustion-chamber andhaving a slot in its lower side in which is fitted a strip 8 of asbestosor mineral wool and which acts in the capacity of a wick to absorb theoil and feed the same to' the flame by capillary attraction. The burner7 is connected by pipe 9 with the lower portion of tank or reservoir 6and is provided with a controlling-valve 10, by means of which the flowof oil to the burner may be regulated. The opposite end of theburner isprovided with a drain-cock 11, by means of which heavy oil or residuummay be drawn off at intervals, so as to maintain the burner in primecondition and obviate choking of the feeder 8. A pan 12 is slidablyfitted in an opening in the front side of the box, so as to admit ofremoval of any matter that may accumulate in the bottom portion of thecombustion-chamber. The front of the pan 12 isprovided with a series ofopenings 1am supply air to the flame, and other openings 14 are providedin the upper portion of the front wall to supply air for mixing with thesmoke and fumes.

The products of combustion such as smoke, fumes, and the likearisingfrom the flame pass from the combustion-chamber into the chamber 4:, inwhich they are cooled prior to application to the plants or crop to becleared of destructive germs and insects. Distributing-pipes extend fromthe chamber 4: and connect with the lower rear portion thereof andterminate in nozzles 15, of any make or pattern best calculated todisseminate the germ-killing medium. The distributing-pipes areadjustable and comprise telescoping sections 16 and 17, secured in thelocated position by means of clamps 18. By providing for lengthening andshortening of the distributing-pipes the nozzles 15 maybe adjusted tothe required elevation to suit the height of the plants to be treated,as will be readily comprehended. The distributing-pipes may be of metalor hose pipe or a combination of the two, as desired.

In the operation of the invention the oil to be burned is placed in thereservoir or tank 6 and is permitted to pass to the burner in desiredquantity by means of the valve 10, and when ignited the products ofcombustion pass from the chamber 3 into the chamber 4 and from thelatter through the distributingpipes to the nozzles 15 and from thenceto the plants to be treated. The machine is drawn over the field in sucha manner as to admit of the smoke and fumes, as taken from the nozzle15, to be directed upon the plants, thereby destroying the insect pestsfeeding thereon. Any agent-such as pine-tar, sulfur, or the like-may becombined with the oil, so as to produce a medium that will insuredestruction of the insects.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In aninsect-destroyer and fumigator, a box subdivided into chambers which arein communication at their upper portions, a

burner located in one of the chambers for generating the smoke, fumes orother insectdcstroying medium, and distributing-pipes connected with thelower portion of the other chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. In an insect-destroyer and fumigator, the combination of a boxsubdivided into chambers, a burner located in one of the chambers, anddistributingpipes connected with the other chamber and composed oftelescoping sections to admit of adjustment to the height of the plants,substantially as specified.

3. An insect-destroyer and fumigator comprising a box subdivided intocommunicating chamblers, a burner arranged in one of the chambers forgenerating the insect-destroying medium, means connected with the otherchamber for disseminating said insectdestroying medium, and a tank orreservoir containingoil mounted upon the box and arranged directly abovethe chamber having the burner, substantially as set forth.

4. In an insect-destroyer and fumigator, the combination of a boxsubdivided into communicating chambers, a burner arranged in one of thechambers, means connected with the other chamber for disseminating theinsect-destroying medium, a reservoir located above the box forcontaining the oil for supplying the burner, and a drain-cock connectedwith said burner for drawing off the residue, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN H. HEFFNER. L. s.] EUGENE Z. KIDD. LL. s]

Witnesses:

J. D. TALLY, J. R. WILsoN.

